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Daniela Mejía 15/05/12

Summary/Recap

Gossip destroys people's reputations, wether it is intentionally or accidentally. The most common excuse for gossip is: "I only mentioned it because I was concerned".
But the thing is, that if personal concern was an excuse for gossiping, then 90% of all gossips could be justified. So in that case: "I only mentioned it because I was concerned" We can cross out this excuse, as well as any other.


To summarize all our information, we can say that gossip is caused because of personal issues, ussually for reputations.
The main reasons why people gossip are:

• To feel superior
• To feel like part of the group
• For attention
• Out of jealousy or a need for revenge
• For fun
• To avoid conflict

And then it is transmitted by people even if they don't know it is true. Listeners usually spread the information to fit in, wanting to be part of an inner circle and wanting to show closeness.

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Daniela Mejía 16/05/12
Interview to Ricardo Pineda

Dependiendo de los casos que hayas visto relacionados con el chisme, que crees que hace que las personas cambien o esparzan la información?

Es muy común verificar que todo aquello ligado a nuestros peores miedos, violencia, actos políticamente no correctos, es lo que mas rápido se difunde, ahí radica el mismo éxito de los noticieros que en ultima estancia nos presentan una realidad parcializada y no objetiva de la realidad. Todo lo que este ligado a violencia, drogas, sexo, famosos, siempre activa finas sensible y mucho interés en la gente.

Usefulness
This is the point of view from a psychologist wich had had a lot of experience with this topic, so we believe it is more useful than an article due to it being present and in front of him.
He says:
That the spreading and managing of the information is also based in our worst fears, violence or political acts which are not correct, and that it is spread faster than any other information. everything that is connected to violence, drugs, sex, famous people, is always active and causes interest on people.

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Daniela Mejía 14/05/12
http://www.manitoba.ca/csc/brochures/pdf/eap/gossip.pdf

Why do people gossip?

There are many reasons why people gossip. Like:

• To fit in
• To feel superior
• To say they have been wronged
• To get spectators/support
• For fun
• To avoid conflict
• To validate their perspective

Being a listener in gossip is just as harmful. Gossip can put the listeners in the middle of the situation wether unfairly or unintentionally.
Listeners also have reasons to listen to the conversations. Like:

• Wanting to fit in
• Wanting to be part of an inner circle
• Wanting to show closeness
• Feeling uncomfortable to deal with the speaker

Usefulness
This helps us to complete our other information, because we had gained the knowledge of other reasons why people gossip, but this one is wider, and by knowing the reasons we can build a path to knowing the solutions, or at least thinking of them. Which will help us with our action.

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Daniela Mejía 12/05/12

http://www.familyministries.com/compassionate%20gossip.html

Which are the main excuses for gossip?

Gossip destroys people's reputations, wether it is intentionally or accidentally. The most common excuse for gossip is: "I only mentioned it because I was concerned".
But the thing is, that if personal concern was an excuse for gossiping, then 90% of all gossips could be justified.
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• Victim: The individual, being affected by the gossip
• Offender: The one who started the gossip
• Transmitter: The individuals who spread the rumor

Even the one who repeats the hurtful gossip, instead of confronting the offender, participates in gossip. The one which first mentioned the rumor should be corrected and sent to arrange the problem with the victim.


Usefulness
We learned how gossip simply can't be justified. Personal concern is not an excuse, because if you were really concerned you would help the victim, not spread what is bothering him/her, which brings a higher problem. And this helps us see how people sometimes think they are doing the right thing with gossip, but honestly they aren't.

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Sofia Ayalde 11/05/12

http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/rumors/article4.html


WHY IS GOSSIP CREATED?
Let's say you've just heard a REALLY juicy rumor about someone you know. It may not be true, but its too good to keep to yourself. Your first instinct is to go and tell it to all your friends.We've all had that kind of urge. But why? Here are some possible reasons:
To feel superiorWhen people are feeling bad about themselves, they sometimes think they'll feel better if there were someone worse off than they are.
To feel like part of the groupIf everybody else is gossiping or spreading rumors, you might feel you have to do the same thing in order to fit in.
For attentionWhen you know a secret that nobody knows, or are the first person in your group to hear a rumor, it can make you the center of attention.

For control or powerCertain people always want to be in control and at the top of the ladder. When people want to be at the top of the popularity scale, one way they do this is by reducing the "status" of another person. Spreading rumors and gossip is one of the main ways people do this, especially among girls.
Out of jealousy or a need for revengeIf you're jealous of someone's looks, popularity, or money, you might gossip about that person . If you feel that someone's done something bad to you, or deserves to be hurt, making up a rumor might satisfy your sense of justice.

Out of boredomDid you know that in many studies, this was the #1 reason why young people say they spread rumors? Sometimes, a place where everyone is happy and enjoying must be boring sometimes. Spreading rummors might shake things up a bit, or get two people to start a fight, and that would make life a little more exciting. All those TV shows full of celebrity gossip are proof that rumors are a popular form of entertainment.

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